USE OF PAPER IN ARCHITECTURE &INTERIOR

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements

of the degree of
Bachelor of Architecture
By

Name of the Student: Ms. Anushka Nagpure

E.No. 20181022336809

Guide: Prof. Milind Gujarkar

SUMMER 2020 -21

RASHTRASANT TUKADOJI MAHARAJ NAGPUR UNIVERSITY,

NAGPUR.

INSTITUTE OF DESIGN EDUCATION AND ARCHITECTURAL

STUDIES,
NAGPUR
 D E C LAR AT I O N

I declare that this written submission represents my ideas in my own words and where
others' ideas or words have been included, I have adequately cited and referenced the original
sources. I also declare that I have adhered to all principles of academic honesty and integrity
and have not misrepresented or fabricated or falsified any idea/data/fact/source in
my submission.

I understand that any violation of the above will be cause for disciplinary action by
the Institute and can also evoke penal action from the sources which have thus not been
properly cited or from whom proper permission has not been taken when needed.

Name of the Student: Ms. Anushka Nagpure

Enrollment No.: 20181022336809

Date:
 Institute of design education and architectural studies, Nagpur

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the seminar work entitled ‘USE OF PAPER IN ARCHITECTURE
&INTERIOR’ has been carried out by MS. ANUSHKA NAGPURE as a partial fulfillment of
degree of Bachelor of Architecture, in the academic year 2020-2021 of IDEAS - Institute of
Design Education and Architectural Studies, Nagpur affiliated to RTM Nagpur University.

Seminar Guide Head of the Department,

Prof. Milind Gujarkar IDEAS, Nagpur

Date –
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This seminar would not have been possible with the kind support and help of many
individuals and the institute.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of them.

I am highly indebted to my guide Prof. Milind Gujarkar for her patient guidance, enthusiastic
encouragement and useful critiques.
 CONTENTS

1. Introduction
1.1. Selection of Paper as A Material
1.2.Disadvantages of Conventional Bricks
1.3. Disadvantages of Cement Blocks
1.4. Aim
1.5. Objectives
1.6. Concern
1.7. Methodology
2. Literature Study
2.1. Study of Conventional Bricks
2.2. Study of Solid Concrete Blocks
2.3. Study of Papercrete Block
3. Experimentation
4. Conclusion
1. INTRODUCTION

Paper is a fascinating material that we encounter every day in different variants: tissues
,newspapers, paper towels, packaging material, wall paper or even fillers of doors. Despite
radical changes in production technology, the material, which has been known to mankind for
almost two thousand years, still has a natural composition, being made up of fibers of plant
origin. It has its unique properties , relatively high compression strength ,bending stiffness,
low production costs paper is becoming more and more popular in many types of industry.
The objective of present research is to employ the waste materials like paper and to substitute
the costly and rare conventional building brick, which satisfies the characteristics such as Cost
effective, Less weight, Inflammable, Easily available, Establishing the industries, Increase
there strength by adding other materials, Decrease the water absorption capacity,
Increase fire resistance capacity, Trying to reduce concrete amount necessitate with same
strength. Paper is a universally found, easily available material of natural origin. It is cheap
in production, eco-friendly and easy to recycle and re-use.

Mass-produced paper products such as special paper, paperboard,

corrugated cardboard, honeycomb panels, tubes and L- and U shapes are
suitable for use as a building material in the broad sense of these words –
i.e., in design and architecture. Objects for everyday use, furniture,
interior design elements and partitions are just a few examples of things
in which paper can be employed. Temporary events such as festivals,
exhibitions or sporting events like the Olympics require structures that
only need to last for a limited period of time. Paper and its derivatives
fascinate designers and architects, who are always looking for new
challenges and trying to meet the market’s demands for innovative and
pro-ecological solutions. Being a low-cost and readily available
material, paper is suited to the production of emergency shelters for
victims of natural and man-made disasters, as well as homeless persons.
Paper is a universally found, easily available material of natural origin. It
is cheap introduction , eco-friendly and easy to recycle and re-use.

Use of has been carried out in experimenting/constructing -

• Temporary structures
• Relief construction
• Objects for everyday use
• Furniture
• Interior design elements
• Partitions
• Paper bricks
1.1 SELECTION OF PAPER AS A MATERIAL

Paper is a material of organic origin, the most popular raw

materials from which paper is made are deciduous and
coniferous trees. However, paper can also be made out
of other plants, such as straw, hemp, cotton, bamboo,
cane and other cellulose- containing materials.
Moreover, using recycled paper as a source material is
more and more popular.
The basic properties of paper are characterized by
weight and density, moisture content, physical
characteristics, strength properties, optical properties
and other criteria

Production of paper

Paper production is divided into two phases. First is the preparation of paper pulp, second is
processing the pulp in paper mills to form paper sheets. Pulp consists of small, elongated
plant cells that form a compact tissue made of the raw material. The pulp used in paper
production must be ground into individual fibers. Sheets of paper are produced by using the
fibers ability to form bonds with each other during a process of irrigation, heating and
pressing.

Daily routine starts with the use of paper and also ends with the use of paper. And
large amount of waste paper is generated. A survey from the National Environmental
Engineering Research Institute (NEERI)shows that 17 trees are required for the
paper production of 1 ton of paper.
Indian office workers throw away nearly 85% of tons, every year. Paper makes up
the greatest proportion of the waste stream, therefore, presents the greatest opportunity
for recycling. Recycling office paper alone can save 33% of the energy needed to
make paper from trees, as well as save thousands of gallons of water.
 1.2 DISADVANTAGES OF CONVENTIONAL BRICKS

Brick is one of the most important materials for the

construction industry. The conventional method of bricks
production has brought undeniable shortcomings. The
consumption of earth-based materials as clay, shale and sand
in brick production resulted in resource depletion,
environmental degradation, and energy consumption.
Virgin resources are mined from riverbeds and hillsides to
service brick industry leaving mines areas un-reclaimed.
Environmental degradation accompanies such mining
activities with air pollution and remains after the mines cease
operations, leaves scars on the landscape..

Red bricks are primarily made from clay which is obtained

from topsoil of the earth’s surface. On continuous production
of red bricks, the fertile topsoil is lost and hence the land
available for agriculture decreases. Hence red bricks are not
considered environment friendly.
They also emit carbon dioxide during the production.

1.3 DISADVANTAGES OF CEMENT BLOCKS

CO2 emission from construction sites because of cement use is a global issue.
In order to address environmental effects associated with cement manufacturing
and constantly depleting natural resources, there is a need to develop alternative binders to
make concrete Industry sustainable. The cement industry contributes significantly to the
imbalances of the environment; in particular air quality. The key environmental emissions are
nitrogen oxides (NOx), Sulphur dioxide (SO2) and grey dust .The Portland cement
manufacturing industry is under close scrutiny these days because of the large volumes of CO2
emitted. Therefore, numerous studies have been done to evaluate CO2 emissions and energy
consumption. Technological advancement has resulted in cement making companies being able
to produce higher volumes compared to the past.

The main sources of air pollution in the industry include excavation activities, dumps, tips,
conveyer belts, crushing mills and kiln emissions. As of 2007, the cement industry alone was
reported to produced 5% of total greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
1.4 AIM

• To experiment and study the possibility of using waste paper as a material in

building construction and interior

1.5 OBJECTIVE

• To understand the advantages and disadvantages of adopting waste products such

as paper as a building material.
• To prepare blocks using waste paper pulp and find out their possible uses in
building and interior
• Study & derive ways in which paper can be reused as a building material and how
the waste material can be used in the construction industry

1.6 CONCERNS

The study’s concern is to compare conventional red bricks, solid concrete blocks
with papercrete blocks on various factors.
Can waste paper pulp be possibly used as one of the component material used in
making concrete blocks and how much effective can it be.

1.7 METHODOLOGY

• Study on use of paper in Architecture

• Study on paper as a possible building material

• Study of conventional bricks

• Case study on use of paper pulp in brick making

• Experimentation -Casting blocks of different proportions

• Comparative study of conventional red bricks,

cement blocks and paper bricks
 2. LITERATURE STUDY

2.1 STUDY OF CONVENTIONAL BRICKS

Made by moulding clay in rectangular blocks of uniform size then drying and burning.
Properties -
Uniform size
Light in weight
No lifting appliance is required
Can be laid by unskilled labour
Durability
Strength
Reliability
Low cost
Easy availability

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS-
1. Compressive Strength (the maximum compressive stress that under gradually applied load
a given solid material will sustain without fracture)
As per IS: 1077–1992 clause 4.1 {applied for burnt clay strength = 40 N/mm^2 [Common
burnt clay building bricks- specification (5th revision)]. Hence minimum acceptable
compressive strength of any class of burnt clay bricks in dry state is 3.5 Mpa.
2. Water Absorption-
A brick with water absorption of less than 7% provides better resistance to damage by
freezing. The degree of compactness of bricks can be obtained by water absorption test, as
water is absorbed by pores in bricks. The water absorption by bricks increase with increase in
pores. So, the bricks, which have water absorption less than 3 percent, can be called as
vitrified. The bricks, when tested in accordance with the procedure laid do\\11l in IS 3495 (
Part 2) :1992 after immersion in cold water for 24 hours, water absorption shall not be more
than 20 percent by weight up to class 12'5 and 15 percent by weight for higher classes.
3. Efflorescence-(Efflorescence is the usual terms for deposit of soluble salts, formed in
or near the surface of a porous material, as a result of evaporation of water in which they
have been dissolved)moderate to slight rating for high class bricks
4. Composition of good brick earth –
1. Alumina (20-30%) It imparts plasticity to the bricks .Excess of alumina makes bricks too
hard when burnt.
2. Silica – present in clay either free or combined (50-60 %) of silica
It prevents cracking, shrinking and warping thus it imparts uniform shape to bricks.
Durability of bricks depend upon proportions of silica in brick earth. Extra of silica makes
bricks brittle.
3. Lime – (small quantity about 5 percent) is desirable in good brick earth. Should be
present in finely grinded form Lime prevents shrinkage of raw bricks, the sand alone is
infusible. Excess of lime causes brick to melt and shape is lost.
4. Oxides of iron- (5-6%)is desirable to impart red colour to the bricks. The excess of oxide
in iron may make brick black or dark blue. On the other hand if oxide of iron is
comparatively less bricks will be yellowish in colour.
5. Magnesia- A small quantity of magnesia to the bricks imparts yellow tint to the bricks
and decreases shrinkage. But excess of magnesia leads to decay of bricks
Harmful Ingredients in brick earth-
1. Lime-if it is not present in finely powdered state causes flaking of bricks.
2. Iron pyrites – IF present they crystallize the brick earth and disintegrate them during
burning
3. Alkalies-Mainly in the form of soda and potash, cause bricks to fuse, warp, twist as a
result bricks are melted away and loose shape
4. Pebbles-do not allows clay to be mixed uniformly and thoroughly which will result in
weak and porous bricks.
5. Vegetation and organic matter-if such matter is not completely burnt the bricks become
porous, result in formation of small pores

2.2 SOLID CONCRETE BLOCKS

Standard sizes available in the market:

Length: 400, 500 or 600 mm.
Height: 200 or 100 mm.
Width: 50, 75, 100, 150,
200, 250 or 300 mm.
However, it defers from manufacturer to manufacturer
Solid concrete blocks are precast concrete blocks which are primarily
Made from cement and fine aggregates.
Solid concrete blocks are made of a mixture of Portland cement, water, sand and gravel.
Sometimes fly ash is used as fine aggregate.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF SOLID CONCRETE BLOCKS

General All units shall be free of cracks or other defects which interfere with the proper
placing of the unit or impair the strength or performance of the construction. Minor
chipping resulting from the customary methods of handling during delivery, shall not be
deemed grounds for rejection.
1) Where units are to be used in exposed wall construction, the face or faces that are to be
exposed shall be free of chips, cracks, or other imperfections, except that if not more than 5
percent of a consignment contains slight cracks or small chippings not larger than 25 mm,
this shall not be deemed grounds for rejection.
2) Dimensions The overall dimensions of the units when measured as given shall in
accordance the tolerances mentioned therein.
The nominal dimensions of concrete block shall be as follows:
Length: 400, 500 or 600 mm Height : 200 or 100 mm Width : 50,75, 100, 150,200,
2500r300 mm
3) Blocks Density- The block density when determined shall conform to the requirement
given in 5 i.e.. Should not be less than 1500kg/m^3 (Brick density is an important
parameter. ... The mass and volume of an over dried brick are measured. The bulk density
can be determined by dividing the mass by volume.)
3) Blocks Density- The block density when determined shall conform to the requirement
given in 5 i.e.. Should not be less than 1500kg/m^3 (Brick density is an important
parameter. ... The mass and volume of an over dried brick are measured. The bulk density
can be determined by dividing the mass by volume.)

4) Compressive Strength The minimum compressive strength at 28 days being the

average of eight units, and the minimum compressive strength at 28 days of individual
units.
5) Water Absorption- The water absorption, being the average of three units shall not be
more than 10 percent by mass.
6) Drying Shrinkage The drying shrinkage of the units when unrestrained being the
average of three units shall not exceed 0.06 percent. (Drying shrinkage is defined as the
contracting of a hardened concrete mixture due to the loss of capillary water. This
shrinkage causes an increase in tensile stress, which may lead to
cracking, internal warping, and external deflection, before the concrete is subjected to any
kind of loading.)(The initial drying shrinkage or drying shrinkage is calculated as the
difference between the original wet measurement and the dry measurement expressed as a
percentage of dry length.)
7) Moisture Movement- The moisture movement of the dried blocks on immersion in
water, being the average of three units, shall not exceed 0.09 percent (Moisture
Movement. Moisture enters and moves through buildings as liquid water and as water
vapor. The four categories of water movement are: Liquid flow. Driven by gravity or
wind, water flows into and through holes and cracks in houses).
2.3 BLOCKS MADE USING PAPER-PAPERECRETE

Paper Mixed With Cement - creates a very good bond – product lightweight and
strong, strength due to presence of hydrogen bonds in microstructure of paper.
Fibers - sound insulation properties and help in crack control.
Portland cement -is an integral component of the mix and acts as a binder, reduces
the drying time and the effect of pulp shrinkage and increases the strength and
dimensional stability, adds weight to the mix and makes it more brittle
Coir/ sand/ dirt or pumice sand -adds thermal mass and makes the mix stronger
and impervious to water but results in heavier structure.

3. EXPERIMENTATION:-

MATERIALS REQUIRED-
1. Paper pulp(finely grinded)
2. Sand(fine sand i.e. Properly sieved and free from
gravel)
3. Portland cement
4. Water
5. Oil (for greasing)

APPARATUS USED –
1. Mould
2. Weighing machine
3.Trowel
4.Hand Gloves

PROCEDURE:-
STEP 1- A Mould was made taking dimensions 19Lx9x9cm i.e L*D*H .
STEP2 - Waste newspapers were collected, torn into pieces and immersed in water for about
2 days such that the paper gets completely wet .
After 2 days the immersed paper was grinded in a mixture for converting it into finely
grinded paper pulp.
STEP 3:-Weigh the materials according to the proportions taken

SOKING PAPER PULP

PROPORTIONS OF MATERIALS USED IN THE BLOCK

SERIAL NO. SAND CEMENT PAPERPULP

BLOCK 1 _ 2 2

BLOCK 2 4 1 3

Step 4- Sand and cement were dry mixed using a trowel until a uniform mixture
was achieved and then papercrete was mixed thoroughly to achieve a mix of
uniform colour.
Minimum amount of water was added separately unless it was essential. The water
within the pulp was used for mixing the papercrete.
Step 5 – The Mould was properly placed on a completely flat surface and greased
before casting the block. The greasing would help in easy removal of the block
later.
Step 6 –The mix of the material was transferred to the mould. The material was
properly compacted.
Step 7- Bricks with different proportions were casted and set for drying.
 4.CONCLUSION

FACTORS OF CONVENTIONAL SOLID PAPERCRETE

COMPARISON RED BRICKS CONCRETE BLOCKS
BLOCKS

INSULATION 0.80 0.80 Use of paper

VALUE increases the
insulation value

COMPOSITION Soil,Sand,lime or M sand ,Portland Paper pulp ,Sand,

other concrete cement and coarse Cement
materials aggregate

STRENGTH 2.5-3 N/mm^2 4-5 N/mm^2 Use of paper

decreases the weight
of the block

WEIGHT 2.27 kg 10-12 kg

WATER Not more than 20% Not more than 10% Would absorb more
ABSORBTION water due to the
presence of paper

HANDLING Have been used over More durable Bricks become

years, zero lighter , could
maintenance become more easier
to handle

COLOR Red Grey Grey

FACTORS OF CONVENTIONAL SOLID PAPERCRETE
COMPARISON RED BRICKS CONCRETE BLOCKS
BLOCKS

MANUFACTURING Use of waste paper

COST reduces the overall
cost of the brick

SIZE 190x90x90mm Available in various Casted in to

sizes different sizes

POSSIBLE USES Exterior walls Exterior walls False ceilings,

OF THE BLOCK IN Partition walls,
THE BUILDING Temporary
structures

TIME REQUIRD 10 DAYS(sun dried) 28 DAYS to gain 28

FOR DRYNG complete strength DAYS(SUNDRIED)

LOAD BEARING Yes Yes Use of paper bricks

CAPACITY reduce overall
dead
load of the building

HARDNESS HARD HARDER as Sufficiently hard

compared to
conventional bricks

CRUSHING
STRENTH TEST
4. CONCULATION

• Papercrete can be used for construction in many ways – as

blocks, panels, it can be poured, pumped, sprayed. It can be
used for interior walls, and also for interior design elements.

• Papercrete have the ability to provide an ecofriendly, light

weight concrete​
Block.

• Due to less weight of papercrete bricks, the total dead load of the
building will be decreased.

• Since, papercrete brick primarily consists of waste material, it will lessen the
landfills and pollution. Hence, the overall cost is very low as compared to
conventional brick. It has been observed that by using papercrete bricks in a
building construction and in interior design, the absolute cost was reduced from
20% to 50%.